Sliding car door



April 13, 1943. w. A. BEAUCHAMP 2,316,661

SLIDING CAR DOOR Filed Aug. 27, 1940 JIT Patented Apr. 13, 1943 SLIDING CAR DOOR Wilfred A. Beauchamp, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Youngstown Steel Door Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 27, 1940, Serial No. 354,376

8 Claims.

This invention relates to sliding car doors and is directed more specifically to sliding doors for railway house cars and to the provision of an effective seal for the rear portion of such doors to exclude snow, rain, dust and cinders.

It is an object of this invention to provide sliding doors for railway cars embodying a flexible,

weatherstrip at the rear portion thereof.

A further object is to provide sliding doors for railway house cars so constructed as to include a flexible metallic weatherstrip adapted to alford an effective seal by a flexing action.

A further object is to provide sliding doors for railway house cars incorporating a flexible weatherstrip extending continuously from top to bottom of the door.

A further object is to provide sliding doors for railway house cars embodying a vertical exible weatherstrip which shall not affect interchangeability of said doors with doors not provided with such weatherstrip.

A further object is to provide sliding doors for railway house cars embodying a exible Weatherstrip capable of sealing said doors and preventing lateral movement thereof.

Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing forming part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a partial elevation of a door embodying the invention.

Fig.v 2 is a' horizontal section taken on of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section corresponding to Fig. 3 taken throughthe upper corner of the door.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section showing a modied form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section showing a -further embodiment of the invention.

Referring rst to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing, the sliding door embodying the invention is designated by the reference numeral I0 and embodies a metallic panel II formed with line 2--2 horizontal corrugations I2 which merge into av the vertical corrugation as by the vertical rows of rivets I5 and I6. The latter row of rivets is utilized as well to secure a substantially Z-shaped metallic sealing strip I1 upon the plate member I4 and a reinforcing angle I8 .upon the metallic panel I I as more clearly appears in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The sealing strip I1 is formedwith a forwardly extending flange I1A, the purpose of which in the door construction will hereinafter appear. i

The upper horizontal portion of the door is reinforced by means of an angle member I9. the vertical leg 20 of which lies upon the outside of the metallic panel II and is fastened thereto.

The lower horizontal portion of the door I0 is reinforced by means of a horizontal plate 2l which terminates at the Vertical plate I4 and by an angle member 22 having a vertical leg 23 disposed between and secured to the metallic panel Il and the Vertical plate 2l. The horizontal leg 24 of the bottom angle member 22 is disposed horizontally and extends preferably outwardly.

The vertical metallic plate I4 is deformed to provide an inwardly opening recess 25. Portions of the vertical plate I4 are cut so as to provide spaced tongues 26.

A flexible metallic weatherstrip 21 is secured to the vertical plate I4. The weatherstrip 21 is provided with a portion 28 seated in the inwardly opening recess 25 of the plate I4. At the rear thereof the portion 28 is offset inwardly to provide a rearwardly extending flange 29 disposed between the plate I4 and the sealing strip I1 and frictlonally held between these members. The portion 26 of the weatherstrip 21 is folded upon itself as indicated at 38 and this folded portion lies under the spaced tongues 26. From the folded portion 30 the weatherstrip 21 extends inwardly and rearwardly as indicated at 3l and is reinforced by being folded upon itself as indicated at 32. The portion 3| is crimped, eis-indicated at 33, where it extends from the folded portion 39 to afford desired flexibility.

Removal of the upper portion of the metallic panel as indicated by the reference numerals 34 provides space for the continuation of the plate member I4 and with it the weatherstrip 21 as more clearly appears in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The plate member I4 lies against the leg 20 of the door reinforcing member I9.

To secure extension of the vertical metallic plate I4and the metallic weatherstrip 21 to the lower edge of the door the vertical leg 23 of the secured by means of'rivets 43. The spark strip 42 is provided with a rearwardly extending flange 44. It will be apparent particularly from Fig. 2 of the drawing that as the door approaches its final closed position engagement between the door sealing strip I1 and the spark strip 42 will bodiment the flexible metallic weatherstrip 5I is a single ply of material, .the forward margin be effected. These members cooperate to exclude\.`

larger particles of foreign matter from entering the car. In this movement of the door the inwardly and rearwardly extending ange 3| of the flexible weatherstrip 21 engages the rearwardly extending flange 44 of the spark strip and is exed thereby. The resilient engagement thus A established between the weatherstrip and the spark strip provides an effective seal for excluding rain, snow, dust, cinders and the like from the car.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the considered embodiment of the invention that provision of the me tallic weatherstrip on the door does not affect its interchangeability with similar doors not provided with the weatherstrip. The action by which the weather seal is established by the flexible weatherstrip is a flexing action and not compression. action of the flexible weatherstrip a tight engagement between the spark strip and thedoor sealing strip is secured and lateral movement of the door relative to the car wall when the door By reason of this of which is secured to a. vertical plate member 52, fastened to the metallic panel II on opposite sides of the vertical corrugation I3, preferably by means of rivets-53. The rivets 53 prevent possible damage to the forward margin of the weatherstrip. 'Ihe weatherstrip'l extends inwardly and rearwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing so as to lie below the flange I1A of the door sealing strip I1 and be protected thereby. As in the two previously considered embodiments of the invention sealing engagement between the weatherstrip ."I- and the spark strip 42 is secur'ed by exing action of the weatherstrip which additionally prevents relative lateral movement between the door and the car wall.

`The material of which the weatherstrip is formed may be commercial bronze or phosphorbronze, the latter being preferred. However, any desired flexible metallic material may be utilized so long as it is suitable for the purposes of the invention.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details ofthe invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended within this invention which is to be limited4 only by the scope of the claims appended thereto. y

Ivclaim:

1. A sliding metallic door for railway house cars comprising a metallic panel having a vertical outwardly oset corrugation, a vertical plate spanning said corrugation and secured on opposite sides thereof to said Panel, a vertical inwardly opening recess formed in said plate, a plurality of vertically spaced tongues struck from the recessed portion of said plate and a veris closed is prevented. Moreover, the relationship between the door sealing strip I1 and the flexible metallic weatherstrip 21- is such that the inwardly and rearwardly directed portion of the weatherstrip is protected by the flange ITA of the door sealing strip as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The tongues 26 secure the forward margin of the weatherstrip in position and protect this margin from accidental engagement with any part of the car wall and possible distortion.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated 'in Fig. 5 of the drawing the flexible metallic weatherstrip is substantially similar in construction to the weatherstrip 21 with the exception that the portion 46 thereof is straight. This portion is disposed between the door sealing strip I1 and a backing plate 41 and is fractionally held between these members. The metallic plate 41 in the considered embodiment of the invention is formed with a shoulder 48 so as to protect the folded portion 49 of the weatherstrip. From the latter portion the weatherstrip extends inwardly and rearwardly as indicated at 5II and is disposed under and protected by the flange I1A of the door sealing strip I1. As in the first considered embodiment of the invention the action of the weatherstrip 45 is a flexing action produced by engagement thereof with the spark strip 42 in the final closing movement of the door. These members accordingly-cooperate to provide an effective seal for the rear portion of the door and to prevent lateral movement of the door relative to the carwall.

A further embodiment of the invention is iln lustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing. In this emtical metallic weatherstrip seated in said recess, said weatherstrip extending under said tongues and having a flexible portion projecting inwardly vand rearwardly beyond the inner plane of said door.

2. A sliding metallic door for railway house cars comprising a metallic panel having a vertical outwardly oflset corrugation, a vertical plate spanning said corrugation and secured on opposite sides thereof to said panel, an angular metallic sealing strip secured to said plate, a vertical inwardly opening recess formed in said plate, a plurality of vertically spaced tongues struck from the recessed portion of said plate and a vertical metallic weatherstrip seated in said recess, the forward margin of said weatherstrip lying under said tongues and the rear margin thereof being disposed between said plate and said sealing strip. said weatherstrip having a exible portion projecting inwardly and rearwardly beyond the inner plane of said door.

3. A sliding metallic door for railway house cars comprising a metallic panel having a vertical outwardly offset corrugation, a vertical plate spanning said corrugation and secured on,

opposite sides thereof to said panel, an angular metallic sealing strip secured to said plate, said sealing strip having a forwardly extending ange spaced from said plate, a vertical inwardly opening recess formed in said plate, a plurality of vercured between said plate and said sealing strip, said weatherstrip having a flexible portion projecting inwardly and rearwardly beyond the inner plane of said door, said portion projecting under said forwardly extending flange of said sealing strip and being protected thereby.

4. A sliding metallic door for railway house cars comprising a metallic panel having a vertical outwardly oflset corrugation, a vertical plate spanning said corrugation andsecured on opposite sides thereof to said panel, a vertical inwardly opening recess formed in said plate, a flexible weatherstrip secured to said plate and having a. ange seated in said recess and an inwardly and rearwardly extending flange, said corrugation terminating -below the upper margin of said panel, a member having a vertical ange overlapping and secured to the outside of said margin, a portion of said margin of said panel being removed above said corrugation, said plate and said weatherstrip extending substantially to the upper edge of said door.

5. A sliding metallic door for railway house cars comprising a metallic panel having a vertical outwardly offset corrugation, a vertical plate spanning said corrugation and secured on opposite sides thereof to said panel, a vertical inwardly opening recess formed in said plate, a flexible weatherstrip secured to said plate and having a flange seated in said recess and an inwardly and rearwardly extending flange. said corrugation terminating above the lower margin of said panel, an angular-member having a horizontal flange and a vertical flange, said vertical flange disposed between and secured to said margin and said plate, said vertical flange being removed adjacent to the end oi said angular member, said plate and said weatherstrip extending substantially to the lower edge of said door.

6. In a railway house-car a wall provided with a door opening and a flange extending in spaced relation to said wall, a sliding door mounted upon the outside oi' said wall, a metallic sealing strip secured to the rear vertical margin of said door and having a forwardly projecting' flange, said forwardly projecting flange being spaced inwardly from said door, a exble metallic weatherstrfp secured to said door and extending inwardly and rearwardly therefrom, said flange on said sealing strip establishing overlapping engagement with the inner face of said wall ange and said weatherstrip engaging with the outer face of said wall flange and lbeing flexed thereby during final closing movement of said door, for the purpose set forth.

7. A horizontally sliding metallic door for railway house cars comprising a metallic panel and a vertically extending sealing strip secured to the inside of said door adjacent-to the rear edge thereof, a vertically extending flexible metallic weatherstrip separate from said panel disposed upon the inside of' said door. said weatherstrip having a rearwardly directed flange extending under said sealing strip and a flange extending inwardly and rearwardly beyond the inner plane of said door and means engaging said weatherstrip forwardly of said inwardly and rearwardly extending flange -for securing said weatherstrip to said door.

' 8. A horizontally sliding metallic door for railway house cars comprising a metallic panel and a vertically extending sealing strip secured to the inside of said door adjacent to the rear edge thereof, a vertically extending flexible metallic weatherstrip separate from said panel disposed upon the inside of said door, said weatherstrip having a rearwardly directed flange extending under said sealing strip and a flange extending inwardly and rearwardly beyond the inner plane of said door and a plurality of spaced tongues on. said door engaging said weatherstrlp forwardly of said inwardly and rearwardly extending flange for -securing said weatherstrip to said door.

' WILFRED A. BEAUCHAMP. 

